MP3: Margaret Berger - Naive (16)

Of all the Norwegian pop I've subjected myself to the past couple months, Norwegian Idol runner-up Margaret Berger is by far the best. Other promising Norwegian artists such as Marit Larsen have one or two great singles, but Berger's record "Pretty scary silver fairly" is all-killer, no filler. I'd say it's the catchiest pop album I've heard since Robyn's latest. There's plenty of songs worth posting, but I've decided to go with "Naive (16)" since that "Gentle on my mind" (John Hartford) loop gets stuck in my head every time I hear it. Lyrically, there's nothing special going on, but it's simplicity is also its strength. See if the "I should've known better" refrain doesn't get permanently imprinted into your brain. I dare you! And besides, I don't need pop music to be deep - there's plenty of other artists who've got that angle covered. They can't all be Hello Saferide, y'know?

Margaret Berger - Naive (16)

Stylus lauds Norwegian pop artist Margaret Berger and her album "Pretty scary silver fairy": http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/margaret-berger/pretty-scary-silver-fairy.htm
I've been listening to this record a lot recently and will probably be posting an mp3 in the near future.

The winners of this year's Spellemannsprisen - the Norwegian equivalent to the Grammy - have been announced. Here's a few of the highlights:

Spellemann of the year: Odd Nordstoga
Male artist: Odd Nordstoga - "Luring"
Female artist: Sissy Wish - "You May Breathe..."
Newcomer: Annie - "Anniemal"
Video: Margaret Berger - "Lifetime Guarantee"
Pop group: The National Bank - "The National Bank"
Jazz: Solveig Slettahjell - "Silver"
Electronica/contemporary: Lars Horntvedt "Pooka"
Rock: WE - "Smugglers"
Metal: Enslaved - "Isa"
Open class: Frode Fjellheim - "Aejlies gaaltije - the sacred source"

Read more: http://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2005022813205467507438

The nominees for the 2005 Spellemannspris, Norway's equivalent to the Grammy, have been announced. Here's a selection of the categories:

Female artist:
Maria Solheim - "Frail"
Sissy Wish - "You May Breathe..."
Bertine Zetlitz - "Rollerskating"

Male artist:
William Hut - "Versus the End of Fashion Park"
Sondre Lerche - "Two Way Monologue"
Odd Nordstoga - "Luring"

Pop act:
Kings of Convenience - "Riot on an Empty Street"
The National Bank - "The National Bank"
Savoy - "Savoy"

Rock:
Gluecifer - "Automatic Thrill"
Gåte - "Iselilja"
Span - "Mass Distraction"
Tellusalie - "Tangerine Dreams"
WE - "Smugglers"

Electronica/contemporary:
Biosphere - "Autour de la lune"
Deathprod - "Morals and dogma"
Lars horntveth - "Pooka"
Lasse marhaug - "The shape of rock to come"

Metal:
Black Debbath - "Den femte statsmakt"
Enslaved - "Isa"
Mayhem - "Chimera"

Hip-hop/R&B:
Jaa9 & Onklp - "Sjåre brymæ"
Madcon - "It's all a madcon"
Tungtvann - "Iii:folket bak nordavind"

Jazz:
Børre Dalhaug - "Bigbandblast!"
Sharp 9 - "No:network"
Skomsork - "Skomsork"
Solveig Slettahjell - "Silver"
Petter Wettre - "Hallmark moments"

Open category:
Frode Fjellheim - "Aejlies gaaltije - the sacred source"
Karl Seglem - "Femstein"
Trygve Seim - "Sangam"
Susanna and the Magical Orchestra - "List of lights and buoys"
Transjoik - "Uja nami"

Music video:
Margaret Berger - "Lifetime guarantee"
Illumination feat. Anneli Drecker - "Kool karma"
Jim Stärk - "Morning song"
Kings of Convenience - "I'd rather dance with you"
Bertine Zetlitz - "Fake your beauty"

Newcomer of the year:
Annie - "Anniemal"
Margaret Berger - "Chameleon"
Madcon - "It's all a madcon"
Side Brok - "Høge brelle"
Span - "Mass distraction"

Hit of the year:
Erik Faber - "yesterday's call"
Jim Stärk - "Morning song"
Kurt Nilsen - "My street"
Odd Nordstoga - "Kveldssong for deg og meg"
Ravi & Dj Løv - "Dødsøt"

Winners will be announced on February 26. Read more: http://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2005010714073264546578

Here's this week's MTV Up North Nordic video chart, the final one for the year:

01. Saybia - I surrender
02. Nephew - Superliga
03. Mando Diao - God Knows
04. Clemens - Raptus
05. Bertine Zetlitz - Fake Your Beauty
06. Nightwish - Wish I Had
07. The Hives - Two Timing Touch & Broken Bones
08. Dhani - Girl Talk
09. Jonna - Sateen Jälken
10. Black Belt - All to You
11. Melody Club - Baby (Stand Up)
12. Eskobar - You Got Me
13. Burhan G - Take U Home
14. Ayesha - Squaffie
15. Sahara Hotnights - Who Do You Dance For
16. Promoe - Long Distance Runner
17. Ana - Don't Cry For Pain
18. Infinite Mass - Fire Fire
19. Margaret Berger - Lifetime Guarantee
20. Lambretta - Chemical

Go to the MTVE.com site to watch and vote for your favorite.

Here's this week's MTV Up North Nordic video chart:

01. Saybia - I surrender
02. HIM - And Love Said No
03. Nephew - Superliga
04. Dhani - Girl Talk
05. Nightwish - Wish I Had
06. Black Belt - All to You
07. Ana - Don't Cry For Pain
08. The Hives - Two Timing Touch & Broken Bones
09. Bertine Zetlitz - Fake Your Beauty
10. Melody Club - Baby (Stand Up)
11. Burhan G - Take U Home
12. Ayesha - Squaffie
13. Sahara Hotnights - Who Do You Dance For
14. Eskobar - You Got Me
15. Promoe - Long Distance Runner
16. Noble - Hot 2 Nite
17. Beats And Styles - Fire
18. Deportees - Not Tonight
19. The Solution - My Mojo Aint Working No More
20. Margaret Berger - Lifetime Guarantee

Challengers:
01. Majid - My Struggle
02. The Ark - One Of Us Is Gonna Die Young
03. Jonna - Sateen Jälken
04. Infinite Mass - Fire Fire
05. Mando Diao - God Knows

Go to the MTVE.com site to watch and vote for your favorite.

Here's this week's MTV Up North Nordic video chart:

01. Saybia - I surrender
02. Annie - Chewing Gum
03. HIM - And Love Said No
04. Dhani - Girl Talk
05. Nightwish - Wish I Had
06. Nephew - Superliga
07. Black Belt - All to You
08. Ana - Don't Cry For Pain
09. The Hives - Two Timing Touch & Broken Bones
10. Lazyboy - Facts Of Life
11. Stephen Simmonds - Mother Mary
12. Bertine Zetlitz - Fake Your Beauty
13. Burhan G - Take U Home
14. Ayesha - Squaffie
15. Johndoe - Pyromantikk
16. The Solution - My Mojo Aint Working No More
17. Magne F - Past Perfect Present Tense
18. Eskobar - You Got Me
19. Noble - Hot 2 Nite
20. Promoe - Long Distance Runner

Challengers:
01. Deportees - Not Tonight
02. Beats And Styles - Fire
03. Melody Club - Baby (Stand Up)
04. Sahara Hotnights - Who Do You Dance For
05. Clemens - Raptus
06. Margaret Berger - Lifetime Guarantee

Go to the MTVE.com site to watch and vote for your favorite.